Hereward Primary School, Loughton
Hereward Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Loughton, part of Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 7 schools in Loughton with published results, and 474th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Essex (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Hereward Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 95% of Year 6 pupils at Hereward Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 95% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 76% in Essex and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (92% in reading, 93% in maths).
Getting a place at Hereward Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 58 families put Hereward Primary School as their first choice and 175 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Hereward Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Hereward Primary School are St John Fisher Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, 57% reading, 57% maths); Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery (0.7 miles, Good, 90% reading, 88% maths); Theydon Bois Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths); and The Alderton Junior School (1.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 73% maths).
Hereward Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
St John Fisher Catholic Primary SchoolThomas Willingale Primary School and NurseryTheydon Bois Primary SchoolThe Alderton Junior School
The trust
Hereward Primary School is one of 16 schools run by Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
14.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Debden Underground Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Colebrook Lane (se-bound), 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hereward Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Hereward Primary School are Davenant Foundation School (0.2 miles), Debden Park High School (0.4 miles) and Roding Valley High School (1.7 miles).
Davenant Foundation SchoolDebden Park High SchoolRoding Valley High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
14.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 95% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 95% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.4
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
15
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Hereward Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Hereward Primary School.
- St John Fisher SSS Sports Camp580m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hereward Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hereward Primary School is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Hereward Primary School
Will you get a place at Hereward Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Hereward Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Hereward Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Hereward Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Essex, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Hereward Primary School for 2019 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Essex got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
418 pupils
420 places
2 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Loughton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Loughton
Across Essex council
Places available
17,932
Applications
15,737
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All primary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
56
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
16.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
445
Total Pupils
210
Boys
235
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
18.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,399
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,021
Per pupil
£2294k
Total funding
£80k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.4%
Overall absence
8.2%
Persistent absence
365
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Hereward Primary School
Questions parents ask about Hereward Primary School
What are SATs results like at Hereward Primary School?
Of the pupils at Hereward Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 95% reached the expected standard in reading and 95% did so in maths.
What is Hereward Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Hereward Primary School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024.
What is the catchment area for Hereward Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Hereward Primary School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Hereward Primary School?
Hereward Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Hereward Primary School?
Classes at Hereward Primary School average 29.4 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Hereward Primary School?
Hereward Primary School has around 445 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Hereward Primary School?
4.4% of sessions were missed at Hereward Primary School in 2024/25. 8.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hereward Primary School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Hereward Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Hereward Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Hereward Primary School: St John Fisher SSS Sports Camp (580m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Hereward Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hereward Primary School?
Hereward Primary School is at Colebrook Lane, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2HR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)